Dracaena plant named ‘PVDRAGQ’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct Dracaena plant named ‘PVDRAGQ’ which is characterized by the combination of relaxed and somewhat spiraled foliage born on an unbranched stem, variegated foliage with a combination of light green, yellow-green and light yellow irregular axial striations, foliage with broad and irregular yellow margins, and the stability of these characteristics from generation to generation.

Latin name of the genus and species: The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosed herein is Dracaena fragrans.

Variety denomination: The inventive cultivar of Dracaena disclosed herein has been given the variety denomination ‘PVDRAGQ’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘PVDRAGQ’ is a spontaneous whole-plant mutation of Dracaena fragrans ‘Golden Coast’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,603) which was discovered at a commercial greenhouse in San Jose, Costa Rica in 2017. The mutation was initially noted for its unique foliage variegation. Said mutation was isolated for further evaluation to confirm the uniformity and stability of the unique characteristics first observed. Upon confirmation of the stability and uniformity of the characteristics, the new plant was selected for commercialization.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of ‘PVDRAGQ’ is accomplished by way of rooting stem cuttings. Propagation was first performed in 2017 at the inventor's commercial greenhouse in San Jose, Costa Rica. Through two subsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have proven to be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘PVDRAGQ’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, day length, and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘PVDRAGQ’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘PVDRAGQ’ as a new and distinct Dracaena fragrans cultivar:

-   -   1. Dracaena ‘PVDRAGQ’ exhibits relaxed, lorate-shaped foliage         born on a single dark green, unbranched stem; and     -   2. Dracaena ‘PVDRAGQ’ exhibits foliage which is moderately         spiraled and curled downward, distally; and     -   3. Dracaena ‘PVDRAGQ’ exhibits green foliage with light green,         yellow-green and light yellow irregular axial striations across         the entire foliage surface; broadly and irregularly margined         yellow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of ‘PVDRAGQ’ grown in San Jose, Costa Rica. This plant, grown in a 15 cm nursery container, is approximately 26 weeks old from a rooted young plant; and

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliage of ‘PVDRAGQ’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements, made in May of 2019, describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 26 week-old ‘PVDRAGQ’ plants grown in 15 cm nursery pots in San Jose, Costa Rica. Plants were produced using conventional greenhouse production protocols for Dracaena sp. which consisted of growing under shade cloth, irrigating at regular intervals with ebb and flow flood benches, and fertigation. No chemical treatments of any kind were utilized.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristics will vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘PVDRAGQ’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Where dimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is to be understood that such characteristics are approximations or averages set forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety may differ from the descriptions set forth herein with variations in environmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations are based on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The Royal Horticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘PVDRAGQ’ and comparisons with the parent plant and most similar commercial Dracaena cultivar known to the inventor are provided below.

-   Plant description:     -   -   Growth habit.—Upright evergreen perennial with foliage born             on a solitary unbranched stem.         -   Plant profile.—Obovate to broad elliptical.         -   Average height from base to top of foliage.—87.7 cm.         -   Average width.—Average of 72.2 cm.         -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast growing.         -   Plant vigor.—Moderately to highly vigorous.         -   Propagation details.—Asexual propagation is accomplished by             stem cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 5 weeks are required             to initiate roots at 25 degrees Celsius.         -   Time to produce a marketable 15 cm potted             plant.—Approximately 15 to 30 weeks. Pinching will increase             lateral branching.         -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither             tolerance nor resistance to normal diseases and pests of             Dracaena fragrans have been observed.         -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to USDA Hardiness Zones 10             through 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;             moderate tolerance to rain and wind. -   Root system:     -   -   General.—Fibrous; freely branched and moderately dense             rooting.         -   Distribution in the soil profile.—Shallow to moderately             deep.         -   Texture.—Smooth; glabrous.         -   Color.—Greyed-orange, RHS N170A. -   Stems:     -   -   Branching characteristics.—Not freely branched in nature;             develops lateral branches only when manipulated by man by             way of pruning. Naturally produces one main stem arising             from the plant's base.         -   Attitude.—Near vertical.         -   Strength.—Very strong.         -   Length.—55.5 cm.         -   Diameter.—Average 1.9 cm.         -   Internode length.—Average 1.2 cm.         -   Stem texture.—Glabrous; smooth.         -   Stem luster.—Slightly glossy.         -   Color, developing stems.—Yellow-Green, nearest to RHS 144D.         -   Color, mature stems.—Yellow-Green, nearest to a mixture of             RHS 145A and 146A.         -   Color at the internodes.—Yellow-Green, nearest to RHS 146A. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Spiraled.         -   Attachment.—Sheathed.         -   Division.—Simple.         -   Attitude.—Foliage near the apex is upright to outward and             becomes progressively more relaxed towards the base.         -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—48.         -   Lamina.—Dimensions — 41.1 cm long and 7.0 cm wide, on             average. Shape — Lorate. Aspect — Lightly to moderately             axially twisted (i.e. spiraled); distal portion on the             lamina pointing downward. Apex — Acute with a short, soft             but pointed tip. Base — Sheathed. Sheath — Length — 4.4 cm.             Width — 2.0 cm. Color, adaxial surface — Green-white,             nearest to RHS 157A. Color, abaxial surface — Nearest to in             between green and yellow-green, RHS NN137A; axially striped             yellow-green, RHS 145A. Margin — Entire; coarsely undulate.             Texture and luster of adaxial surface — Smooth, glabrous and             moderately glossy. Texture and luster of abaxial surface —             Smooth, glabrous and matte. Color — Juvenile foliage,             adaxial surface — Yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS             144A and 146B; central zone is axially striped yellow-green,             nearest to a mixture of RHS 144C and 145A; broadly margined             yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144C. Juvenile foliage, abaxial             surface — Nearest to in between green and yellow-green,             nearest to RHS 138B and 147B; central zone is axially             striped yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 144D and             147D; broadly margined yellow-green, nearest to RHS 144D.             Mature foliage, adaxial surface — Nearest to in between             green and yellow-green, RHS NN137B and 147A; axially striped             yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 144C, N144C and             146C; broadly margined yellow, nearest to RHS 12B. Mature             foliage, abaxial surface — Nearest to in between green and             yellow-green, RHS 137C and 147B; central zone is axially             striped yellow-green, nearest to in between RHS 144B and             144C; broadly margined yellow, nearest to RHS 8B. Venation —             Pattern — Parallel. Color, adaxial surface — The main vein             nearest yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 144A,             N144C, and 146C. All other veins are indistinguishable from             the surrounding foliage: nearest to in between green and             yellow-green, RHS NN137B and 147A; axially striped             yellow-green, nearest to a mixture of RHS 144C, N144C and             146C; broadly margined yellow, nearest to RHS 12B. Color,             abaxial surface — The main vein is yellow-green, nearest to             a mixture of RHS 145C and 145D. All other veins are             indistinguishable from the surrounding foliage: nearest to             in between green and yellow-green, RHS 137C and 147B;             central zone is axially striped yellow-green, nearest to in             between RHS 144B and 144C; broadly margined yellow, nearest             to RHS 8B. -   Inflorescence: To date, flowering has not been observed. -   Flower buds: To date, flowering has not been observed. -   Flower: To date, flowering has not been observed. -   Reproductive organs: To date, flowering has not been observed. -   Seed and fruit: To date, flowering has not been observed.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PVDRAGQ’ may be distinguished from its parent, Dracaena fragrans ‘Golden Coast’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,603), by the characteristics described in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘PVDRAGQ’ ‘Golden Coast’ Foliage attitude. Foliage is generally more Foliage is generally more relaxed. upright. General Green foliage with light Green foliage with broad, coloration green, yellow-green and light green to light yellow of the foliage. light yellow irregular axial axial striations towards striations across the entire the margined margins; foliage surface; broadly and narrowly yellow. irregularly margined yellow.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘PVDRAGQ’ may be distinguished from the closest known commercial comparator, the common form of the species Dracaena steudneri (not patented), by the characteristics described in Table 2.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘PVDRAGQ’ Dracaena steudneri Foliage aspect. Less spiraled (i.e. axially More spiralled. twisted) Foliage attitude. Lower foliage is more Lower foliage is more upright than those of relaxed than those of Dracaena steudneri. ‘PVDRAGQ’. Internode Longer internodes Shorter internodes length. compared to Dracaena compared to steudneri. ‘PVDRAGQ’. General color- Green foliage with light Has medium green ation of the green, yellow-green and leaves; no variegation. foliage. light yellow irregular axial striations across the entire foliage surface; broadly and irregularly margined yellow. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Dracaena plant named ‘PVDRAGQ’, substantially as described and illustrated herein. 